Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-10
TIE REcoGN1TIoN IN THE SALOON.
begging.


II the personality had not made such
an impression on me 1 should not have
identified the man when found him seat
| ed at a table in a Third avenue beer
saloon one evening when L CHANGED to en-
ter for liquid refreshment. Recognizing
him | dropped into chair near him. and
| after glancing over the evening paper |
ventured to comment upon the news by
| way Of engaging MIN in conversation.
He was evidently not inclined TO he talka-
tive, but. on the contrary, quite reserved,
with dignity that did not cOmPort with
| the surroundings or my knowledge OF
! him. / was not to De discouraged, how
| ever, and finding that the current news
did not interest him, ventnred to speak
OF the attractions of the city to a
stranger like myself. Tue statement that
| was stranger caused him to lose some
OF his restraint, and he admitted that the
city was interesting 10 a stranger, yet
was not great city like London. l tnen
| observed that there was an English &C
cent in his speech, not the generally &C
cepted cockney, but the well-bred Eng
lishman. There was not the slightest iu-
clinatioB toward fTiendliness on ais part,
and his manner was plain that he talked
simply not to be rude and would much
rather be left alone. |, however, was OF
easily to be discouraged. and rautled on
SO pleasantly that finally he became
quite cordial, the claracterizing reserve
wearing of gradually. His conversation
was that OF man who had received
common school education and had seen
considerable OF the III, and my inter
est in him, with my know edge OF ms
career on the street, increased. as
sumed that while in hard luck because OF
non-receiptal OF rsmittances he bad taken
to street begging to get along. L went 50
far as to invite him to 20 down 10 the
Peoples theatre. He hesita-ed and de-
cliHed, but when told MN the attraction
was sensational melodsama, entitled
Taken from Life" the scene OF wnicn
was laid in London, he said that ne would
go on condition that he was allowed to
pay his own way, English style. he OBJ
served that he should have TO change his
clothes and take MS dinner.
"Hum-if you haven't dined, won't
you dine with mer' | replied, on
condition be would allow me to
pay my share. He said his dinner
| was ordered in his room above stairs, and
that there would be enough tor two; he
added that he had room upstairs and
| had merely stepped in TO get glass OF
beer, as be had been Walking
all the afternoon, and was
weary Che did not say he had
been on begging tour, but | assumed as
much, and thougntit would be a good joke
TO dine and 20 to the theatre with pro-
| iessional street beggar, especially one as
! intellig gent as my newly-found iriend). He
led the way through a side door into the
| hall adjoining, and thence up three
flights OF stairs to door, thrusting open
which neatly furnished room was re-
Vealed He ushered me in With the
courtesy of one to the manner born, Of
ferng me a chair. He rang a bell, and,
excusing himself, disappeared IN closet
between his own and the front room. A
waiter from the saloon below responded
! TO the bell, and the mutted voice OF my
| friend, in the act OF washing his face,
ordered dinner for twO-the waiter, evil
! IDENTIFY accustomed TO such instructions g,
disappearing Immediately 70 execute
them. A glance at the room revealed that
the furniture was all old, but everything
was scrupulously neat and tidy. There
| was a laded old portrait over the mantel
in dingy gilt frame that was evidently
| that OF the occupant OF the room IN
earlier life. There was nothing else,
however, about the apartment 10 give any
/ Indication OF the tastes or condition OF
! my newly found friend. On the CON
trary, the absence OF comforts anu orua.
mentation impaired TO The room MS own
| aspect Oi secrecy and reserve. He
emerged from the lavatOry clad In a neat
/ dark wooden suit and his hair aud beard
brushed 30 carefully That ne was COM
pletely metamorphOscd, appearing IKE a
| Well-tO-d0 EnRllshmHD. Almost stimuli
taneOusly with his appearance the wa ter
| came with tray. Conspicuous on whica
Was the tall slender bottle Of Rhine VINE.
| A table, winch / have neglected 10 state
was 90 the centre OF the room, was spread,
ana We we're soon vis-n-yls, enjoying me
German liable d'hOte mat was furnished
q remember W. aslEn m the saloon be-
low Tor fOs. The bottle of VINE nv host
/ tbg FintsEr.
] gradually directed the Conversation
w bllnseli, but a. nfst he Was NOT la.